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Today on Tea & Tattle podcast, Sophie and I examine our concerns about having too much of a perfectionist mentality, and how the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi helps us to embrace the imperfect and lead happier lives.

Wabi-sabi is rooted in Japan and is closely linked to the Japanese tea ceremony, but it’s an approach to life that can be adopted by anyone, anywhere in the world. Having a wabi-sabi mindset enables you to recognise and appreciate beauty in the imperfect and the transient, such as a worn, much-read book, or leaves falling from a tree.

Leafing through Wabi-Sabi Welcome by Julie Pointer Adams

In this episode, Sophie and I share our favourite definitions of wabi-sabi from literature we’ve read on the subject, and discuss more generally what wabi-sabi means to us and how we’re trying to accept and be at peace with imperfection in our own lives.

Listen to learn more about the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi and how to embrace the perfectly imperfect.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast to receive exclusive recommendations from Sophie and me every week.

Whether you love or hate your job, are contemplating starting a ‘side-hustle,’ or are perfectly content with the traditional career path, there’s no denying that bringing a more creative approach to what you do will not only improve the work you produce, but will make the process much more enjoyable too.

My work as a primary school teacher and as a blogger/podcaster requires me to continually pull fresh ideas out of my head and churn out creative content on a daily basis. I rarely suffer from a lack of inspiration, however having a bank of ideas to hand is never due to chance, but is the result of a carefully managed system I have in place that keeps my creative fuel burning.

Here are the steps I take that enable me take a more creative approach to work and life.

1/ Have daily routines that help you cut through the noise in your head.

Many of us are perfectionists and suffer from from self-doubt and anxiety. It can be all too easy to get trapped into a negative cycle of thoughts spinning round your head, and this acts as a terrible block to your own creativity. Journalling first thing in the morning is a great way to get all the messy, anxious thoughts out of your head and on to paper, leaving you feeling clearer-thinking and more balanced as you start the day. Whenever I notice my thoughts starting to spiral, I know I have to fall back on journalling, meditation and exercise to help me cut through all the negative noise and feel grounded again.

2/ Listen to inspiring podcasts.

I like to listen to a wide range of podcasts to get the most inspiration. Here are some favourites:

For pure creative joy, I listen to The Writer’s Almanac, hosted by the fabulous Garrison Keillor. This is a bite-size podcast that offers a daily poem or prose and a bit of literary history. It never fails to teach me something new.

Happier in Hollywood gives an entertaining insight into the lives of two Hollywood-based screenwriters, but there are also plenty of great tips on how to navigate a successful career and work as part of a team.

Side Hustle School will inspire anyone to have a go at pulling in extra income from a sideline hobby.

3/ Get out of your comfort zone.

In order to grow as a person, and also become more successful, it’s essential to stretch yourself by taking on tasks that are unfamiliar to you, or require you to learn certain skills.

Also, It’s too easy to get stuck in a comfortable rut of consuming the same types of material: you have your favourite authors, TV shows, restaurants, Instagram feeds, etc that keep you in your own little bubble. Making a conscious effort to try something new that you wouldn’t normally do is an excellent way to keep an open-minded outlook on life and helps you become more adaptive and resilient to change.

4/ Read more.

I always say books are my biggest source of inspiration. Reading a wide range of books, from fiction to non-fiction, essays, poems and articles, exposes you to new ideas and perspectives, which may well spark an interesting thought of your own.

Reading around your particular expertise is always a good idea too. For instance, I read many books about teaching whilst training to be a primary school teacher, but I also looked out for top-quality children’s books all the time too and continually added to the collection in my classroom.

5/ Make time to play.

There’s definite truth in the saying that all work and no play makes Jill a dull girl. Even the most interesting of jobs requires hours of hard work and ploughing through dull tasks. It’s important to take on an activity that, to you, is pure fun. I’m learning brush lettering and needlework, as I enjoy doing something that is soothing and occupies my hands, but that lets my mind wander freely. I’m also doing some water-colouring, even though I’m terrible at it, but I love mixing colours and just getting to play a little.

Sophie is back on the podcast for the latest episode of Tea & Tattle, and we’re resuming our regular fortnightly chats, with interviews with female creatives in between. As it’s back-to-school and back-to-work season, I thought we’d do an episode focused on career, and today we’re sharing our best advice for starting a new job. Sophie has just started a part-time job as a lecturer at the University of East Anglia, so I thought this choice of topic particularly appropriate!

P.S. I’ve updated the Tea & Tattle newsletter! As well as sharing the latest episode each week, I’m including some ‘Weekly Loves’ from myself and Sophie as further inspiration for our listeners. Make sure you’ve subscribed to get our suggestions and updates!

One of my favourite things about June is the abundance of peonies. Evoking romance and early summer, these beautiful, billowy blooms are often sweetly scented and come in a variety of charming colours: white, pink, red, yellow and coral. Understandably, peonies are enormously popular on Instagram, as it’s hard to resist liking a snapshot of fluffy pink petals, and they’re a delightful flower to photograph.

Unfortunately, though, peonies are notoriously pricey, so whenever I buy a bunch, I like to think I can make the most out of my money. I work hard on photographing a variety of different shots to showcase my blooms, without (hopefully!) boring my audience, and I also take care of my peonies so that they last as long as possible.

In celebration of June’s theme word, bloom, on Miranda’s Notebook, I thought I’d share my tips and ideas for getting the most photos out of your peonies.

1/ SOURCE YOUR PEONIES

++ June is the height of peony season and is the best month for buying them. I especially like to buy my blooms from flower markets, where good deals are offered. Columbia Road Flower Market generally sell three bunches of peonies for £20 – just make sure to get there early to avoid the overwhelming crowds! It’s also a good idea to check your local farmers’ market; I recently picked up four bunches of peonies that were going for a great price at my market in West Hampstead.

++ An important tip to remember when buying peonies is to go for bunches where the buds are already starting to open slightly. Peonies should be harvested when the buds are at the ‘marshmallow’ stage – they should feel soft and spongy to the touch. I’ve learnt that very tight, hard buds often never open, which is a disappointing waste of my flower budget. When I know that I want to photograph my peonies very quickly, I’ll go for ones that are, for the most part, fully opened. These blooms won’t have such a long vase life, but they’re great for when I’m in a rush to get photographs.

++ If you’d like to treat yourself to more unusual peonies in a wider variety of colours, then it’s sensible to fork out for special ones at a good quality florist. So far, I’ve found that the standard pink and red varieties are easily found at markets, but for more unusual blooms, I head to my nearest first-rate florist: Scarlet & Violet. Some gorgeous varieties to look out for are: Coral Charm, Raspberry Sundae, Bowl of Beauty, Fairy’s Petticoat and Duchesse de Nemours (aren’t the names delightful?!).

2/ TAKE CARE OF YOUR BLOOMS

++ Peonies have a good vase life and – if well cared for – should last a week or two. On returning home with your flowers, cut their stems straight away, as this helps them to take up the water. Remove excess leaves and any below the water line. Regularly (every other day) recut the stems and add fresh water. You shouldn’t put too much water in your vase, as you should be replenishing with fresh often anyway.

++ If you don’t want to use your peonies straight away, then it is supposedly possible to store your buds for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator. Simply remove all leaves and put your stems into a plastic bag, lined with paper towel to absorb excess moisture. Check every few days and discard any that show signs of mould. When you’re ready to use them, pop them into warm water with some flower food. I’m keen to try out this method myself sometime! I’ve also heard that you can preserve any heads of flowers you snip off in tupperware in the fridge for a few weeks, so I want to give that a try too.

++If your peonies are taking a while to fully open, then try holding them over hot, steaming water (I’ve had mixed success with this, but it’s worth a try if you’ve got some very stubborn ones!).

++ Apparently a splash of lemonade mixed in with water encourages flowers to bloom quicker (I’ve yet to try this and am keen to find out if it works!).

++ It’s always a good idea to keep some flower food to hand, but if you run out, then ½ a teaspoon of sugar and a drop of bleach in the water will do the trick.

3/ PLAN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

++ Planning is arguably the most important step in my photography process. I have a strict weekly budget on flowers (I don’t usually spend more than £10 on average), and yet I use blooms in every single flat lay I photograph, so I need to make sure that I get a range of images from every bouquet I buy. Whenever I buy peonies, which are a more expensive purchase, I’m especially careful about the planning stage in my photography.

++ Most weekends, I set aside a photography morning or afternoon and snap the majority of my indoor shots featuring flowers. I generally buy my flowers the evening before or on the same day, so I photograph them at their freshest, although I’ll also take the odd picture during the rest of the week too.

++ Although I’m often inspired by the flowers I buy each week and the props I have at home, I’ll also research possible shots by spending time browsing Pinterest or the books I collect that feature exceptional floral photography. Taking time to seek inspiration helps feed my own creativity and keeps my ideas feeling fresh.

++ I also take time to think about upcoming blog posts I have planned, or products that I want to feature, and what types of floral photographs I’ll need for them. For instance, I knew I wanted to get a photograph of the lovely book, Paris in Bloom, alongside a bunch of peonies, as I thought the matching pinks would look lovely. Also, I regularly use floral backgrounds that I photograph myself for the imagery on Tea & Tattle, so I try as often as possible to get suitable photos for the podcast, especially when I buy peonies, as they look particularly pretty as backdrops (like this one).

4/ TAKE A VARIETY OF PICTURES

++ A great way to get the most out of your peonies is to tell the whole story of your purchase. Photograph the market stand or shop where you bought your flowers; the peonies at your feet in an attractive market basket (perhaps with some other market purchases too); you walking along a pretty street with a big bouquet over your shoulder; the peonies laid out on a table at home, as you trim the stems; and finally arranged in a beautiful vase. Even if you don’t use all of these images on your instagram grid, they’re perfect to share on stories.

++Try to photograph each stage of your peonies too: first in bud; then as they blossom and colours change and fade; and finally the petals dropping from the vase.

++ Take photos from different angles and focus in on details or zoom out. You can photograph the bouquet as a whole, but also zoom in to snap individual flowers.

++ If you’ve bought a bouquet featuring lots of different kinds of flowers, then after photographing the bouquet as a whole, separate out the flowers and photograph them individually, or as smaller posies.

++ Finally, once your flowers start to fade a little, snip the heads off to use as a pretty feature in your flat lays.

5/ KEEP IT FUN

++ As they’re so popular, peony shots can occasionally border on the cliché. There’s nothing wrong with the familiar, but try not to just snap your bouquet next to some macarons and Love X Style X Life by Garance Dore. Instead, get creative and think of ways to add an element of fun and surprise to your images. Thinking a little more outside of the box is a skill I’m trying to develop in my own photography at the moment, and I had fun playing around with the above peony ‘ice-cream’ shot last weekend.

I hope you find these tips helpful! If you’re inspired by this post to photograph some peonies, then do please let me know – I’d love to see what you come up with.

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Chloé Marlow is the founder of the London-based luxury accessories brand, Marlow London, where she sells her beautiful scarves and bags. I first discovered Chloé’s designs at an A Luxe Story event last autumn and instantly fell for her fun, fresh approach to fashion. A Luxe Story regularly hosts pop-ups featuring up-and-coming designers, and another pop up event is taking place in Hampstead until 14th May (details here). I highly recommend dropping by if you’re in the area, as there are some fabulous designers represented, including Chloé!

Chloé Marlow

Marlow London only launched last year, but it has already attracted a huge amount of success, and I’m sure Chloé will keep on going from strength to strength. I managed to have a chat with her about her experience running her own company so soon after graduating and what it’s like breaking into the fashion industry today.

What made you decide on a career in fashion?

I was very lucky in that I always knew what I wanted to do. I recently found an old diary that I wrote when I was 14, and I’d scribbled all over it that what I wanted to be when I grew up was a fashion designer. I don’t think I ever wanted to be anything else.

You only graduated very recently! What led you to create Marlow London?

I graduated from Central Saint Martins last summer. I never anticipated that I’d launch an accessories brand so soon after graduating! It all came from my final year project, where I was looking at luxury branding and luxury marketing. I’ve always been inspired by luxury brands and the way they represent themselves. I decided I wanted to create a modern-day classic luxury brand.

After graduating, I began apprenticing in a studio, and at the same time I began freelancing for quite a big online fashion retailer. I was meeting talented crafts people at the studio, and I was asking them questions and learning from their experiences, and at the same time I was getting firsthand market research working with the luxury brands I was fascinated by.

Did you do any business studies before launching Marlow London?

No, I’ve never studied business; I’ve always been really creative. I didn’t really know what I was doing – I had to learn from other people. At the studio I apprenticed at, other artists were starting their own business, or had already been running one for a while, so I was asking them about stockists and costings. I was learning about how to work out the costings of a product from a piece of leather and working out how you can tell how many bags you could make and how much each square meter would cost. So I was learning as I went along. Some people might say you should get more experience, but I personally believe that if you want to do something, do it, and learn as you go.

You have quite a tongue-in-cheek approach to fashion. What is the message behind your designs?

I really enjoy merging fashion and art and to have a real context behind every piece I make. With this collection, I was really fascinated by luxury branding and marketing and by what makes an object valuable, be it the name, the craftsmanship, or the branding. I believe that throughout history wealth has been portrayed by what you’ll wear and what you won’t, and I don’t think today is so much different; people want the latest trend, the coolest brand, the limited edition. My collections aim to question these ideas and people’s perception of what is luxury in humorous ways.

So what does luxury actually mean to you? How do you like to inject a little luxury into your everyday life?

I think luxury is about exclusivity – something that not everyone else has. It’s also about the longevity of an object and the craftsmanship that goes into making it.

My day-to-day isn’t that luxurious! I’ll wear anything baggy, anything comfortable. I’m usually sprawled out on the floor, wearing two coats because my office is so cold! When I do go out, though, I always make an effort. I’ll take my time choosing my outfit and getting ready, and to me that really is luxury, as I’m treating myself.

What do you think are the top 5 items any woman should have in her closet?

It’s always good to have a flattering pair of jeans that fit really well. You need a good LBD – you can’t go wrong with that! A statement bag never gets boring and goes with every outfit. A tailored jacket too, as that makes you feel like a girl boss! And then my fifth choice would be an accessory like a scarf. I wear oversized scarfs, and a lot of the scarves in my collection are oversized. You can wear them in so many different ways and they really make an outfit.

What have been some of the highlights so far in your career?

I’m still at the beginning of my career, but first would have to be the evening that I told my boss at the studio that I wanted to quit, and that I wanted to become their client. That was the first step in really becoming my brand, so that was pretty huge! It took a week of my pep-talking myself to do that! Then, the evening I launched my website, it crashed due to too much traffic, which I didn’t anticipate, and my web designers didn’t anticipate it either, so that was a great feeling. Finally, getting my first stockist (Young British Designers) after being in business for less than 6 months was a real highlight.

Does it ever feel overwhelming when things are happening so quickly for you? How do you manage to stay calm?

It can feel very overwhelming! I’m very lucky that I work with my mum, and I bring her along to meetings. She’s always there to support me, and she’ll take some of the load off when I’m struggling to do everything all at once. My mum’s very creative, and I think I get a lot of my creativity from her.

What would your advice be to someone wishing to pursue a career in fashion?

It’s a very competitive industry, which I learn more and more. There are so many talented creatives producing so many incredible things. You need to find your niche, and when you do you need to be determined. A lot of people may say you’re aiming too high, or that you can’t do something, but if you know what you want to do, do it and aim high. I’d also say get as much experience as you can. My whole way through university, I interned in every break I had, and I was very fortunate to do that. Networking is really important too; it really is the contacts you make and the genuine relationships that you create with people in the industry that matter.

Thanks so much again to Chloé for her fabulous answers to my questions! If you’d like to see more of Chloé’s fun creations, check out her instagram feed. You can find Chloé’s beautiful scarves and bags on her website or at Young British Designers.

Don’t you love Chloé’s designs? Which piece would you most like to own? Are you tempted to drop by A Luxe Story pop-up in Hampstead?

signs of spring – this month’s blog theme – a reminder of our book club title – spring cleaning and sorting -capsule wardrobe guide

Welcome to March! I’m thrilled to see the first few hints of Spring in London; the tree opposite my flat is burgeoning into blossom, and I look out for the golden piles of daffodils at the florist next to my local tube station every morning.

With the start of Spring, there’s always a feeling of freshness and renewal in the air. It’s a time to sweep away the physical, as well as metaphorical, cobwebs; to take stock of your home and fill it with a renewed sense of energy after the inertia of winter. Although I’m no minimalist, I do think March is a good time of year to consider your surroundings and have a thorough declutter. This month’s theme on the blog, then, is devoted to home-making, and you can expect some related posts and podcast episodes centred around domesticity in the weeks to come.

Also, don’t forget this month’s Book Club choice is Longbourn by Jo Baker, which is also in keeping with the domestic theme. Longbourn tells the story of Jane Austen’s fictitious Bennet family from the point of view of their servants. I’ve started it and am thoroughly enjoying it already, so please do read along if you can as I’d love to hear your thoughts on it too.

For the first post of March, I thought I’d offer a guide to starting a capsule wardrobe. It always feels good to have a thorough sorting at the start of Spring, and these are the steps I used myself when I had a huge closet clear-out in January. I hope you find them useful if you’re inspired to take stock of your own wardrobe and make time for a bit of Spring sorting and cleaning.

1/ Make sure a finely-honed wardrobe is what you want.

This is key. If your heart isn’t really in it, then no matter how much you think your closet should be neater, you’ll never be willing to be ruthless in your sorting. Check in with yourself and make sure that a pared down, simpler wardrobe and style is really what you want. It’s ok if you are happier with a lot more choice and a full-to-the-brim closet (we can’t all be Marie Kondo, after all), but then you have to move on and realise a capsule wardrobe probably isn’t for you.

If you feel that a thorough sorting of your clothes is just what’s needed, though, then here are some great resources to get you fired up and reaching for the bin bags:

++The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo. Definitely a little eccentric (I consider it part of the charm!), but I love how Marie Kondo encourages a no-guilt attitude to letting go of your possessions.

++ L’Art de la Simplicite by Dominique Loreau. This book will make you want to make everything in your life a little (or a lot) simpler.

++ Dominique Davis’ e-guide to building a capsule wardrobe. Dominique does a great job holding your hand through what can be quite a traumatic process, and she feels like a friendly big sister by your side, urging you on with practical advice. Of course, you can also listen to my Tea & Tattle interview with Dominique for some capsule wardrobe inspiration as well.

++ Un-fancy blog. This blog is perfect for inspiration on making the most out of every item in your closet and re-mixing and matching pieces to create great looking outfits.

2/ Define your personal style.

Before starting the clear-out, it’s essential that you’ve a clear idea of your personal style and what types of items you want in your capsule wardrobe. It makes the sorting process much easier, as you’ll be far less likely to be tempted to keep clothes that clearly fall outside of your capsule wardrobe parameters.

When refining your personal style, I think it’s a good idea to create a Pinterest board (it doesn’t have to be public – mine is currently private!) and to start to build up a collection of images that match the type of style you’d like to develop. Also key to this process, is to think about your lifestyle: do you realistically ever iron those cotton blouses? How many party dresses do you actually need, or, alternatively, do you in fact use any of your ‘loungewear’? I, for instance, realised that I love to wear comfortable, practical clothing a lot of the time, so I kept a lot of my jumpers, denim shirts, breton tops, jeans and trousers. These are the kinds of clothes I like to wear when I’m working from home, but I also realised that I needed slightly different outfits for when I’m teaching in schools and also for when I attend blog events or go out in the evening. This realisation brings me to the next tip….

3/ Think about the different types of capsule wardrobes you need.

This suggestion was one of the most useful hints I took away from my interview with Dominique. She said to think about having more than one capsule wardrobe, depending on your lifestyle. So, for instance, you may want a capsule wardrobe for work as well as weekend wear (and adjust the size of each according to what you wear most).

As I said, I have 3 capsule wardrobe categories: teaching, home and blog / evening wear. Thinking about the type of clothes I wear and use the most really helped me to be especially strict about not keeping too many clothes, like evening dresses, that I wear only a few times a month. I have to admit, I’m currently not too fussed about sticking to an exact number of items in each capsule collection; I’m just happy that now all seasons of my clothes fit together in my wardrobes and drawers. As long as that continues to be the case, I consider that I have the right amount of clothing for me.

4/ Set aside two whole days and get someone (non-judgemental) to help you.

It’s surprising how long a thorough sorting of your closet can take. Make sure you clear a weekend from any other distractions, and (so you won’t drive yourself insane debating whether you really do need one more black top, or if you’ll regret getting rid of it later) make sure to ask someone close to you to help and who won’t raise any judgemental eyebrows at the number of ballet flats you happen to own (cough).

5/ Plan what to do with the clothes once you’re finished sorting.

It’s to easy to pile everything you don’t want into bags, feeling virtuous at how much you’ve managed to wean out of your closet, but then promptly forget about it all and never quite manage to get to the charity shop for a drop-off. Make sure you don’t fall into this trap by carefully planning how and when you’ll get rid of your discarded clothes and try to clear everything out of your home as quickly as possible.

Will you be doing any Spring cleaning this March? Are you tempted to pare down your closet and create a capsule wardrobe? I’d love to hear how you get on if so!

Happy first day of February! I’m excited to introduce this month’s theme word for the blog, which is romance.

Now, I’m aware that this month often brings up uncomfortable feelings, especially for people who are single. All, I can say is: I’m tired of the expectation that not having a date for Valentine’s Day is a reason to feel depressed. If you’re a single woman too, trust me: you don’t have to live up to that expectation.

It always saddens me whenever I get asked: how are you happy when you’re single? I mean, we’re meant to be in the 21st Century! Over time, I’ve learnt not to equate personal happiness with my relationship status, but that’s not an easy lesson to learn, especially when society tells you that if you’re single, you should be miserable.

Single girls are meant to be Bridget Jones, lip-syncing to sad music in their pjs, consoling themselves with wine and day-dreaming about the charming, but emotionally unavailable men in their lives (when they’re not having nightmares about dying alone and being eaten by dogs, that is). They’re meant to wilt when they see another engagement or wedding announcement on Facebook and question all the life choices that led them to wind up alone. They’re meant to feel like failures. Well, I say: scratch that!

I feel so lucky to know real single women who are carving out their own careers; checking into spin class; planning their next weekend trip; reading the latest books; taking the time to be exceptional friends; keeping their standards high. They’re leading great lives, and they’re doing all this against the expectation that they should feel inadequate without a man by their side.

Single women are put in a box, given a lot of limiting beliefs and told a list of things they can’t have: happiness, fulfilment, romance, love, +1 invites to weddings, babies – the list goes on. Is any of that actually true? No.

In contrast, what are single men told they can have? Freedom, spontaneity, excitement and, perhaps most importantly, time. Time to succeed in their career, time to figure out who they are, time to find the right woman, time to play the field, ‘sow wild oats,’ etc.

Do I think there’s anything wrong about being in a relationship? Of course not! I think good relationships are wonderful; I hope I have one some day. I just also think being single is great too. In the end, there is nothing limiting about being single or being in a relationship. You’ll only be limited if you believe you are.

Valentine’s Day is a time when all single people are meant to feel incomplete. This February, though, I’d really love you to join me – whether you’re single or not – in truly embracing a life of romance for this month.

Here’s a rather lovely definition of romance for you:

romance
a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life

Doesn’t your heart quicken a little when you read that? Mystery, excitement, a breaking away from the mundane. Single or not, experiences that spark those emotions inside you are yours for the taking.

If you need a few prompts, here are some suggestions for ways to embrace the romantic life this month:

Visit the sea. Breathe deeply, run along the shore, gather seashells, throw stones, splash in the water.

Treat yourself in a way you usually wouldn’t: book a manicure, a massage, a yoga class, go to the cinema, order a fancy hot chocolate – whatever calls to you.

Read books that fire your imagination.

Think of a skill you could develop.

Allow yourself to day-dream. What kind of life do you really want to live?

Imagine ways to surprise someone you love.

Act in a way you perceive as out of character: if you’re serious, do something playful; if you love to talk, take a turn to listen; if you’re shy, smile at a stranger.

Think about one area of your life you’d really like to change. Don’t let blame or judgement or guilt stand a chance in your head. What are the first steps towards making that change happen? Start doing them.

Do something unexpected, like having pancakes for supper or dancing like mad to your favourite music.

Go on a date.

Have a secret (not a bad one). Plan a surprise party, start a project, take yourself out to lunch – enjoy having something that only you know about, at least for a time.

Do a colour photography challenge: take pictures of all red things one week, orange the next etc.

Say yes to something you would normally decline.

Sample or buy a perfume that smells particularly exotic.

Read a poem and delight in the beautiful use of language.

Write down 5 things you love about yourself.

Start a journal filled with your favourite quotes.

Wear red lipstick.

Do let me know – are you tempted to embrace romance this month? What ways can you think of to fill your life with more excitement?

I was travelling to Geneva on the 21st, so did not take part in any marches, but my Facebook and Instagram feeds were flooded with pictures of all the women and men who took to the streets to protest, and it was incredible to see so many people and inspiring placards photographed all over the world.

Female solidarity has been on my mind a lot lately, and one question I’ve pondered quite a bit is which women (outside of my own family and friends) I particularly admire and look up to as role models. I decided to narrow the list down to women who are alive today, and so here are my final Top 10 Female Role Models.

The epitome of grace and effortless Parisian style, Ines de la Fressange reminds me that true beauty is ageless. At 59, Ines continues to inspire with her flair for easy-to-wear, yet elegant clothing. Her collaborations with Uniqlo are wildly successful, proving she keeps her finger firmly on the sartorial pulse.

Queen of TV writing and producing, Shonda Rhimes is responsible for hugely successful shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder. Her book, Year of Yes, is one of the most inspiring I have read. In it, Shonda details how she overcame her fear of public speaking, lost over 100 pounds, juggles life as a single mother, as well as why she never wants to get married and how she got to dominating Thursday night prime time TV in the USA. If you are looking for a woman to remind you that anything is possible, as long as you work hard and stay true to who you are, then Shonda Rhimes is your girl.

The fitness guru reminds me to keep my own health a priority, and her exercise routines always make me feel stronger, both in body and in mind. I love that Tracy Anderson celebrates and nurtures female solidarity, and her fans carry out her message by offering supportive communities in person and on social media (just check out the #tamily hashtag on Instagram to see what I mean). Although a trainer to a seemingly endless list of celebrities, Tracy never forgets the ordinary woman, and regularly features a member of the #tamily crew in her newsletters.

The former (already greatly missed) First Lady is the embodiment of her own quote: ‘when they go low, we go high.’ Michelle Obama has shown the world how to handle the spotlight with grace and humility. An equal partner to her remarkable husband, she has become a role model for women everywhere.

It’s hard to imagine a story more like a modern day fairy tale than the Harry Potter author’s rise from an out-of-work single mum to the creator of the best-selling book series in history. If I’m having a bad day, I like to listen to her Harvard commencement speech and remind myself not to be so fearful of failure. Unsurprisingly, Rowling always has a gift for finding the right words, making her (in my opinion), the Queen of twitter, and a brilliant example of how to use social media to further your message.

Watching Ina Garten’s food show is akin to receiving a warm hug and always cheers me up whenever I have a bad cold or am feeling a bit miserable. Along with millions of others, I love Ina’s warm, sparkling personality and the way she always manages to make life feel a bit more fun (as well as delicious). Also, her marriage with Jeffrey is my ultimate #relationshipgoals. They are the sweetest couple, and their mutual respect, love and support of each other is abundantly clear.

Beyond appreciating Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as a brilliant writer, it is also her TED talks on the danger of a single story and on feminism that I return to again and again for their wisdom, humanity and truth. These incredible speeches push me to be a better person, to see the wider perspective and to take pride in being a woman, and a feminist.

Despite the recent bad news, the Nasty Gal founder’s autobiography continues to inspire me to be my own #girlboss. Sophia Amoruso’s story in initially building her brand shows how dedication, drive and trusting your gut are all qualities that will help you on the road to success.

Gretchen Rubin’s fantastic books and podcast help me both to understand myself better and to expect more from myself. The happiness and habits expert has led me to realise that I work best in the morning, that I should always strive to ‘be Miranda’ and that every individual has the capacity for transformation and growth, should they wish for it.

As the star of the American series Quantico, Priyanka Chopra is the first actress from India to play the role of a main lead character on US television. A hugely famous personality in her home country, Priyanka has an incredible number of strings to her bow: Bollywood actress, Miss India and Miss World winner, singer, film producer, philanthropist, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, gender-equality campaigner – oh, and did I mention she’s only 34? It’s women like Priyanka Chopra who remind me to dream big, work hard and seize opportunity.

This post is published in celebration of January’s blog theme: beginnings.

Almost two years ago, I discovered the Miracle Morning philosophy, and it completely transformed my approach to the start of the day. I’ve always been a morning person, but the Miracle Morning taught me the importance of having a certain set routine that I perform everyday on waking up. Over time, I’ve adapted the principles of the Miracle Morning to best suit myself and my lifestyle. I no longer wake up at 5am (unless I am truly pushed for time and having a crazy week), but have changed my alarm to 6am, which I’ve found is early enough, especially when I often have a lot more evening commitments now than I used to do.

It can feel overwhelming to completely transform your routine, but there are some quick and easy morning rituals you can undertake that make a disproportionate difference to your happiness, productivity and stress levels. Even better, many of these only take about 5 minutes or less! You don’t have to start with all of them; just try out a few and see what works best for you.

Start the day off right by accomplishing a small task like making your bed, and you’ll feel much more able to strike off bigger tasks on your to-do list. Plus, you’ll have a neat and inviting bed waiting for you at the end of the day – win-win!

Finding a moment of stillness and harmony first thing in the morning sets a good tone for the rest of the day. I admit, I’m struggling with meditation at the moment. I used to be able to find moments of stillness and mental clarity quite easily, but lately my brain really fights me when I try to empty my head of all the thoughts continually whirring around inside it. I’m pretty sure this means I’m in even more desperate need of meditation than ever before, so I’m struggling through, even though the process is generally more than a little frustrating right now.

Rather than meditating, which used to be a real source of calm and quiet pleasure for me, I’ve found that lately I have much more of a sense of peace after journalling. I like to use the 5 Minute Journal in the morning, but if you fancy something a little more soul-searching and quirky, then I highly recommend Meera Lee Patel’s gorgeous notebook Start Where You Are. It’s described as a thoughtful journal that ‘pairs insightful quotes with prompts that spark reflection through writing, drawing, list making, and more.’ I received it as a belated Christmas present and can’t wait to start using it.

There’s nothing worse than that feeling lurking in the back of your mind that you’re forgetting something, or you’re not quite sure what you had to get done today. Save yourself needless mental strain by taking 5 minutes in the morning to check and update your diary and to-do list.

I think it’s so important to take a few moments at the start of each day to do something that brings you joy. That could be dancing around to music, reading a book, listening to a podcast, drawing, knitting, working on your novel, watering your plants – do something that brings you a sense of satisfaction, even if only for 5 minutes. It will leave you feeling so much happier and ready for the day than time spent mindlessly instagram or facebook scrolling.

Getting your body moving and your blood circulating is important when you wake up; however, something I’ve realised about myself over the years is that I loathe vigorous exercise first thing in the morning. The idea of running, doing push-ups, or even more strenuous pilates before I’ve even had a cup of tea makes me shudder (ok, the idea of running always makes me tremble in horror, but you get my point…). Obviously, this isn’t the case for everyone, so embrace what you love and do whatever exercise calls to you at this hour of the day. I like to start off with something very light: perhaps some stretching, or a yoga pose or two, and then I’ll move to more demanding workouts later in the day/evening.

My skin care regime is definitely briefer in the morning than the evening, but I do still try to take the time to cleanse and moisturise my face. It instantly leaves me feeling (and looking) brighter and better and much more ready to tackle the day ahead.

I love thinking about fashion, and even more I love thinking about style. Personal style is so interesting, don’t you think? It says so much about a person. It gives a glimpse of their character, interests and lifestyle. Someone who has a truly cohesive style always manages to appear effortlessly chic: a common thread in taste and design runs through their wardrobe, making it easy to pull together a seamless outfit everyday.

Having recently undertaken a major wardrobe overhaul, I’ve been contemplating my own style and have tried to pin-point what types of clothes I particularly enjoy wearing. My goal is to have a wardrobe filled only with items I really love and that are representative of my own particular style. In thinking about style, I came up with 5 different ‘style personalities’ that reflect certain sartorial choices. Below, I’ve created mood boards that reflect each of the five. Which one (or mix of two or more) are you? Simply decide which board(s) you are drawn to most, then scroll to the bottom to find out which ‘style personality’ you fit! I’ll also reveal my own (I’m a mix of two). This quiz is hardly definitive (or scientific), but I hope it’s fun and provides a little insight into your own style preferences.

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O P T I O N T W O

O P T I O N T H R E E

O P T I O N F O U R

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Ok, have you decided which is your favourite option? Here are the results!

Happiest when exploring the world, you are drawn to comfortable, easy-to-wear clothing that you can throw in a suitcase, but that also has a touch of the exotic. Think brightly patterned maxi skirts and dresses, fringed bags, embroidered t-shirts, a floppy hat and suede boots. You accessorise with pieces of jewellery you’ve picked up from your many travels.

An eternal romantic, The English Rose is drawn to all things feminine. Florals, lace and bows all find their way into your wardrobe. You swoon over the latest Kate Spade and Needle & Thread collections every time, but as well as heels, you also own a pair of wellies and enjoy taking long tramps through the countryside. The English Rose loves pastel hues and generally keeps makeup fairly light: you like a soft, natural look over a bold red lip.

Drawn towards everything vintage, the Bloomsbury Babe’s go-to look is a floral tea dress and cardi, or trousers, a tweedy blazer and a big scarf. Mary Janes and loafers make up almost your entire shoe collection, and you think a book is often the best accessory. You enjoy pops of colour, often veering towards the unusual (mustard yellows, emerald greens and burgundy reds). Bloomsbury Babes love scouring charity shops for great retro pieces, but also keep their noses pressed against Orla Kiely‘s shop window. You love a bright pop of lip colour and a winged eye-liner to complete your vintage-inspired look.

As a Minimalist, you can struggle the most with fashion, sometimes feeling you’re not particularly fashionable, or that you’re more of a ‘tomboy.’ In fact, you have a very defined sense of what you like; it’s just not always well reflected in the fashion industry! Minimalists prefer calm, muted colour palettes and are often drawn towards monochrome looks. You delight in fuss-free dressing and are most inclined to a ‘uniform’ style, generally made up of of white / black / grey t-shirts, jumpers and denim shirts paired with jeans. For formal occasions, you opt for a simply cut, elegant dress, or pair a silk tank or blouse with your jeans and heels. Besides the odd striped shirt, you are rarely drawn to pattern and opt instead for solid colours. Minimalists prefer few pieces of (non-glitzy) jewellery and the very basics in make-up.

The Parisian loves classic items with a twist. You have a taste for the luxurious, and your idea of a perfect outfit generally involves a tuxedo blazer and a Chanel bag. Audrey Hepburn is your idol, and you’re always on the lookout for a really great pair of capri trousers to pair with your ballet flats. Although you love classic, timeless pieces, you also enjoy having fun with fashion and delight in little details that complete an outfit: a silk scarf tied around the neck, a perfectly angled beret and shoes with a fun print. Your go-to makeup look is either a dramatic smokey eye or a bold red lip.

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Which style personality do you identify with the most? My dominant choice is definitely ‘The Parisian,’ with ‘The English Rose’ coming in second place. This realisation has helped me clear out even more from my wardrobe (no more suede, fringed bags for me!).